Former Arsenal defender Emmanuel Eboue has opened up on being booed by Gunners fans eight years ago.

The Ivorian was substituted as a substitute in Arsenal's 1-0 win at Wigan in December 2008 and was mercilessly jeered by his own support.

He was brought on during the first half but played just 67 minutes before being hooked by boss Arsene Wenger after a poor display.

Eboue admits he was surprised by the reaction, and insists the whole team performed poorly.

Eboue played 67 minutes as a substitute before being taken off (Image: Getty Images)

He admits he did not want to attend training after the incident (Image: AFP)

He also reveals he told Wenger he did not want to attend training after the incident because of how it made him feel.

“I was very surprised by that reaction of the fans," Eboue told The Telegraph. "The whole team was playing bad that day but we still won 1-0. All of us played badly. I don’t know why it was only me.

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"When you are a footballer and your own fans boo you, it’s very bad, your confidence goes. After that happened I said to Arsene Wenger [the Arsenal manager], ‘I don’t want to come in any more for training because I feel bad’.

"I got back home and I was crying. But the same week some of the fans came to the club to say sorry to me about that. That was very nice. It meant a lot. ‘Eboue, don’t listen,’ they said. ‘You know we love you.’"